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Things I Love – #3
Himalayan Salt Lamp: I received one of these for my birthday and I’ve bought three more since then. 
Privé shampoo & conditioner: I’ve used several varieties – amp up, damage fix and every day. They are all very hydrating for my fine, colored hair without weighing it down. 
L’Occitane cleansing and nourishing almond shower oil: I love how this foams up when it gets wet, and it smells great. 
Herbivore Coconut Milk bath soak: This makes your bath feel silky and it smells like coconut. 
Essie gel couture nail polish: This is the only polish that will stay on my fingernails more than a few days, and it doesn’t damage your nails like gels. 
Intelligent Nutrients OneBody hand and nail balm: I keep this next to my bed and put it on my hands at night. The scent is very calming. 
Vital Proteins Collagen: Add this to smoothies, coffee, whatever you drink in the morning. Your skin will thank you. 
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Working Long Distance Versus Vactioning
When we decided to work from Arizona for the months of February and March, I think many people were under the impression we would be on a two-month vacation. The first thing John and I did in our rental home was claim our office spaces.
We pulled a desk from one of the bedrooms into a nook in the kitchen for me and we set up the printer and John’s multiple computer screens, keyboard and laptops in the casual dining room. I will admit working with a view of a pool and palm trees is a lovely change of scenery; but with this new blog and all of the projects I kept putting off while we were getting ready to leave Saint Paul, I’m logging more computer time than I ever did at home.We have gotten into a nice routine during the week; whoever is up first in the morning, puts on a pot of coffee before sitting down to work. Then, John and I will often work for hours without saying more than a few words to each other. Our first full week alone in our rental house, we found ourselves working 10+ hour days and the week flew by. On the second week, we realized if we weren’t careful our two months in Scottsdale would be over and we wouldn’t have done anything fun together except when we had company in town. So, we decided to set aside time at least twice during the week to do something fun – sometimes we go on a hike or a long walk through the neighborhood with Sadie, other times we just go exploring or out for happy hour in a new part of town. Our first month in Arizona has already ended and we have a lot of company in March so I feel like we’ll be loading the car up for the trip back home before we know it.
AND, it’s also the time to find a home to rent for February and March 2019! Our plans right now are to rent in the Florida gulf area. Now that we’ve gotten a feel for “living” in the desert, we need to give equal time to the beach. I’m truly shocked at some of the homes for rent on VRBO. Of course, there are many beautiful homes, but I’m talking about the ones that are over decorated, incredibly outdated or painted crazy neon colors. And, they are still asking premium prices because of their location. Every time I start looking on VRBO, I say, “John we should buy and rent out houses in this area.” Easier said than done, but seriously… if you’re going to rent out your house, please at least clean out the closets and wash the dirty dishes before you take photos!
Any tips on where to stay or things to do on the Florida gulf side?
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Favorite Hostess Gift Ideas
If your hostess gift is in a gift bag, consider a short note or at the very least a gift tag. If the gifts aren’t opened until after the event, your host won’t have any idea who to thank for the thoughtful gift.
Specialty candy / chocolates: a special little treat for the hostess to enjoy after the party.
Breakfast: your host will appreciate a fresh loaf of breakfast bread or muffins to enjoy the morning after the event.
Candle or room diffuser: unless you know specifically what kind of scent your host likes, select a mild scent.
Flowers: almost everyone loves flowers, but the last thing a hostess wants to do is leave her guests to find a vase and arrange flowers. Consider a seasonal flowering plant: jasmine, poinsettia, azalea, etc. Or consider sending flowers the following day with a thank you note.Alcohol: bring something your host enjoys (wine, bourbon, scotch, Baileys.) It doesn’t count as a hostess gift, if it’s something you want to drink during the party.
Pet treats: consider bringing the family pet a container of healthy treats or a new toy.
Thank you note. It doesn’t have to be a hand-written note (although a handwritten thank you note truly warms my heart and is usually on my bulletin board for weeks, if not months, like the card at left), but make sure to send a text or e-mail message to your host within 24 hours of the event.
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Perky Little Nut
We had this shot one morning at a little coffee shop in Denver called Amante Coffee. The shot on their menu had Amaretto and was called The Shottino, but we substituted Frangelico.
1 part Frangelico1 part Espresso
Top with heavy cream, very lightly whipped
Layer the ingredients in a tall shot glass. To keep the layers from mixing pour the espresso and cream slowly over the back of a spoon.
Now, drink your shot with a straw so you finish with the cream. Yummy, right?!?!
You can have a lot of fun with this.
Change up the liquor – try Amaretto, Baileys, Kahlua or flavored vodkas like vanilla or whip cream.
Make a Nutty Affogato – vanilla ice cream with frangelico and espresso.
Substitute coconut milk for the heavy cream, if you don’t drink dairy.
Cheers!
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How to Get There and Where to Stay
How to Get There
Most big trips involve airplane travel, so my tips are focused on finding the best airfare prices.
- Join the frequent-flyer program of every airline you fly. It’s free and some offer perks even before you accrue miles.
- Consider signing up for your main airline’s credit card and using it for travel – not only will you get free perks (many allow free checked bags and priority boarding), but you will accrue points for an upgraded flyer status faster.
- Sign up for travel updates and/or free alerts from Airfarewatchdog, Thrifty Traveler, Jetsetter or Travelzoo.
- Use Kayak to track prices and look in the upper left corner for advice on when to buy, although I usually prefer to buy direct from the airline once I’ve found the price and times I want.
- Always search using Incognito mode. Try either Command (or Control), Shift, “N” or Command, Shift, “P” or under File, select “New Private Window” depending on which internet browser you use. This will prevent the airline from tracking your searches after you close your search window.
- For the best price, try to travel during the middle of the week instead of on the weekend. Friday and Sunday are typically the most expensive days to travel.
- Search for airfare prices over multiple days and at different times. Typically, pricing on weekdays are better than on the weekends.
- If you’re traveling internationally, look at breaking up your trip. For example, when we fly to Copenhagen this spring I purchased a round trip ticket to Amsterdam on Delta and then a ticket from Amsterdam to Copenhagen on a local carrier and saved over $500 / ticket. Just make sure to allow enough time for customs. If you miss your flight because you booked them too close together, the airline isn’t responsible for getting you on a new flight since you purchased the flights separately.
- A guide for when to purchase for the best deal: domestic flights should be purchased between 30 days and three months before departure, international should be purchased two to six months before departure.
Where to Stay
Hotels
When booking a hotel, the first place I look is TripAdvisor.com. You can enter your hotel criteria (location, price, amenities, class, etc.) Read the reviews but don’t get hung up on one bad review – some people just like to complain.
Some things to think about when reading reviews: Do several guests complain about the same thing – dirty bathrooms, construction noise, slow service at the pool – and is that something that’s important to you or not. If people complained about room service, but you never get room service, not an issue. Did management respond to the complaint? Was it a canned response or do they really seem concerned and willing to correct the problem?
Think about your location. If it’s more expensive to stay close to the things you want to see (museums, beaches, theater, etc.) consider the cost and time of transportation. If you need to rent a car, take into account the nightly parking rate at the hotel. Before you book that less expensive room, just make sure you won’t be spending all of the money you saved on transportation and parking.
When you’re ready to book, pull up your hotel on TripAdvisor and at the top of the page click on Room Tips. Again, read through these and determine what’s important to you. I almost always include a room request with my hotel booking.
Join the hotels reward program, even if you don’t travel enough to earn free stays, many programs offer free bottled water and a free welcome gift for reward program members.
All-inclusive Resorts
I’ve stayed at a couple all-inclusive resorts and they typically are not my favorite; but if you’re traveling with a large group or you are on a remote island where there aren’t many options for restaurants, it might be a good idea.
A few things to consider:
- Ask about restaurant reservations in advance, many all-inclusive resort restaurants allow reservations and if you haven’t made one for your first night in advance you’ll be stuck eating at whatever restaurant has an opening.
- Ask if all the resort restaurants are included in your rate or is there an up-charge for the nicer restaurants.
- Ask about liquor. Is there wine and beer only or does it include hard liquor? Is it top shelf liquor or rail?
- Ask about included transportation and activities.
Redweek.com
This is a site where people sell their timeshare week(s). If you’re staying in one location for at least one week, check this site.
VRBO / Home Away / Airbnb:
There are so many reasons to consider these options.
- It’s nice to have access to a kitchen when traveling.
- Sometimes the only way to stay in a specific area is to rent a house or apartment.
- It’s fun to feel like a local, especially for an extended stay.
- If you’re traveling with family and / or friends it’s nice to have shared spaces to gather.
I’ve had great success with all of the websites above. Research location, study the photos, read reviews and ask the owner questions. If the owner is rude or doesn’t respond quickly before you book, he/she isn’t likely to respond if you have a problem with the property during your trip.
See my post “How to Choose a Vacation Rental and Make it Feel Like Home” for more tips.
If you have any travel tips related to airfare or booking a place to stay, please share in the Comments.
Next Up: Things to Do and Restaurants
Above the Clouds 
VRBO in Florida 
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Things I Love – #2
Nest orange blossom candle – I love this scent in the middle of winter when I’m longing for flowers and sunshine. 
Malie Organics Linen & Room Spray – Pikake. Pikake is the Hawaiian name for Jasmine. 
Nutribullet Pro: make sure to purchase one with 900 watts or higher to have the power to emulsify your greens into smoothies and nuts into sauces. 
Wüstof chef’s knife and the serrated paring knife are my go-to knives. 
Williams Sonoma Home blanket – cozy cotton; lightweight, but warm. 
Turkish-T Beach Towels – so soft and absorbent. And they still look great after several washes! 
Huggable Hangers: thin, lightweight and easy to pack. The velvet surface keeps your clothes from falling off the hanger.
Doctor Becker’s Bites – one of our dog’s favorite (and healthy!) treats. 
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Greyhound or Salty Dog with Rosemary
What do you do when you have a huge tree full of grapefruit? Make fresh grapefruit juice cocktails! Don’t have fresh grapefruit? Most grocery stores have fresh squeezed juices in their produce departments.1 part vodka (I prefer Grey Goose – stored in the freezer, of course)
2 parts fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 – 1/2 part rosemary simple syrup (heat 1 part sugar with 1 part water and several sprigs of fresh rosemary until sugar is dissolved, strain and chill in the fridge for up to 1 month.)
Fresh rosemary
Fill a rocks glass with ice, vodka, grapefruit juice and rosemary simple syrup. Mix and taste. If it’s too tart, add more simple syrup. Garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary. (If you prefer your greyhound unsweetened; skip the simple syrup and just stir your cocktail several times with a fresh sprig of rosemary to distribute some of the rosemary oils throughout your drink.)
If you like how salt brings out the taste of grapefruit, salt the rim of your glass before filling. Now you have a Salty Dog.
Cheers!
I have access to a lot of grapefruit juice! Please share your favorite grapefruit juice cocktails in the Comments section below.
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Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley, California
John and I took our first trip to Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We loved it so much, we repeated the trip for our 28th anniversary; except this time, we went to Carmel Valley first and then to Pebble Beach. This is a two-location trip and I’ll tell you why, Pebble Beach is on the coast and its often foggy and cool while just 15 miles inland at Carmel Valley there are clear blue skies and sunshine.
My first tip for any trip: If you have a list of hotels and resorts you are interested in, join their email list as early as possible. Many will send you package deals that aren’t always listed on their website. I worked with a concierge at Pebble Beach and from the time I booked our room until we took our trip, there were room / golf packages added and we were able to save a significant amount of money. When I booked, the concierge told me exactly when to look for the packages to be posted and to call her back for the reduced rate. I couldn’t have waited for the package before booking our room because the category of room we wanted was completely booked by the time the package prices were released.
How to Get There:
Fly into Monterey airport and rent a car, preferably a convertible.
PEBBLE BEACH
Where to Stay:
The Inn at Spanish Bay
The Lodge at Pebble Beach is a hub of activity and a huge tourist stop. So, I suggest staying at the Inn. There is a complimentary shuttle to The Lodge, the restaurants, the spa and all of the Pebble Beach golf courses. If you are celebrating a special event, be sure to tell the concierge; most likely you’ll receive a complimentary treat in your room.
Where to Eat:
General Dining-out Tip – Make a reservation! Even if it’s just for lunch, the restaurant staff appreciate it and typically you will be seated at a nicer table. If your golf round is running late, just call and they’ll gladly adjust your reservation.
The Bench at The Lodge is a great lunch stop after playing the Pebble Beach Golf Links. If it’s nice, eat lunch outside around the fire pits on the patio.
Sticks at Spanish Bay is also a great lunch or happy hour stop with fire ribbon tables on their patio.
Stillwater Bar & Grill at The Lodge – consider this your fancy night at Pebble Beach.
The windows overlook the 18th hole at Pebble Beach, go early for a cocktail in The Terrace Lounge by one of the fireplaces. Make sure to order a bottle of the Pebble Beach Memories Pinot Noir. It might not be the best wine on the menu, but the bottle is pretty awesome.
Roy’s at Spanish Bay – delicious Hawaiian-Fusion cuisine
La Bicyclette in Carmel-by-the-Sea – stop for lunch to share a wood-oven fired pizza and order the mousse au chocolat topped with fresh chocolate curls. YUM!
Cantinetta Luca in Carmel-by-the-Sea – fresh, authentic Italian food
Things to Do:
Obviously, if you’re a golfer – GOLF! Even if you aren’t a golfer, but you’re traveling with one, consider walking the Pebble Beach Golf Links course. The views of the course, the coast and the homes are amazing. Much to my husband’s dismay, I missed several of his “great shots” while I was taking photos of the area. Oops!
To the North of Pebble Beach: Explore Monterey and walk around Cannery Row. Drive along the coast back to Pebble Beach. Stop at the Beach House Restaurant and Bar at Lover’s Point for a cocktail with great views of the water. At Point Pinos, stop and tour the historic Lighthouse.
Enjoy the 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach. If you’re staying at a Pebble Beach hotel, you already have access to the 17-Mile Drive without paying the admission fee. Just ask for a map at the gate and make sure to take a photo at the Lone Cypress.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is just outside the Pebble Beach gate near The Lodge. Spend a day exploring this adorable town and its shops. Look for the free Carmel Coast Weekly – a newspaper with lists of current activities. Explore the Scenic Road Walkway, book a tour at Tor House, purchase a “passport” for the Carmel Wine Walk and try to locate The Secret Garden.
Continue South of Carmel on Highway 1 for a scenic drive to Big Sur. Stop and take a short hike at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for beautiful photos of McWay Falls. Consider ordering a picnic lunch from the Pebble Beach Market for your adventure.
Around 5:45 each day, the bagpiper will walk from the #1 tee on The Links at Spanish Bay for the closing of the course. He will stop by the patio outside The Lobby Lounge. Make sure to catch this iconic event at least once during your stay. Go early to secure a spot by one of the fire pits. Bring a warm wrap or sweater; when the sun sets, it will get cold!
CARMEL VALLEY
Where to Stay:
Bernardus Lodge & Spa: The rooms, the food and the spa are all amazing.
Where to Eat:
The Valley Kitchen at Carmel Valley Ranch is a must. Go early to wander the grounds and enjoy the sunset. (photo, left: the vegetarian risotto was amazing!)
Lucia’s Chef’s Table – splurge on the Chef’s table, we did this both trips and each experience was amazing. This table has seen numerous celebrities, many who have written on the wall around the booth and include Julia Child and Leonardo DiCaprio. (Obviously, this must be booked in advance and be sure to inform the kitchen of any dietary restrictions when booking.)
Lucia’s – Try the $44 Duck Burger topped with Foie Gras. (photo, right) John talked with one of the chefs about this burger during our Chef’s Table experience and we had to go back to the dining room the following night so he could order it. He says it was amazing!
Things to Do:
Bernardus Spa: book at least one spa service during your stay and spend some time in the adults only spa pool.
Hiking – ask for a map at the front desk, there are several great hikes depending on how far and strenuous you’d like your hike to be.
Wine Tastings – this isn’t Napa, but there are several wineries in the area. Go to West Carmel Valley Road where there are numerous tasting rooms. If you’re traveling with a group consider the Wine Trolley Tour.
Folktale Winery Tasting (photo at right) – great gardens and yard games, tasty cheese board, wine tastings daily from 11 am – 8 pm, check their website calendar to make sure there aren’t any private events.
Holman Ranch Tour and Tasting – this is an incredible event venue that is booked out years in advance for weddings. We had a private tour and tasting from one of the owners. I was hoping our tour would include a peak at the venue, but unfortunately, there were guests arriving for the weekend and we weren’t able to tour that area.
Since we love this area, I’m sure we’ll be back. If you have any favorite activities or restaurants in the area, please tell me about them in the comments and I’ll add them to my list for our next trip.
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How to Choose a Vacation Rental and Make It Feel Like Home
When we decided to head South and work remotely for two months during the winter, we thought about what we wanted in a rental; a fenced backyard where our dog could roam, a nice kitchen where we could cook healthy meals, a bedroom or two for guests, a place for each of us to work on our computers, and a patio with a heated pool and grill where we could hang out and entertain.
My favorite sites for rentals are Vacation Rentals by Owner (vrbo.com) and AirBNB. Also, enter the name of the place you are visiting with the words “vacation rentals” for local rental companies. You can typically enter your criteria, for example: single family home, pet friendly, neighborhood, pool and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. For the best selection, start looking early. (Since requiring a pet-friendly rental narrowed our choices dramatically, we booked our rental 12 months before our trip. Bonus: The cost of our rental increased before our stay, but we were locked in at last year’s price.) Confirm the location, read the amenities and reviews, study the photos, read the bio of the owner and then tag your favorite properties. I quickly ruled out homes that were over decorated with knick-knacks, personal photos, too much furniture, etc. because that’s not my style and I don’t want to feel like I’m living in someone else’s house. I prefer rentals with a minimalistic decor where I can add my own touches with candles, throw blankets, flowers, plants, etc.
The next step is to message with the owner. For example, even though I only saw homes with pools I couldn’t always tell if they were heated or if there was an additional charge for heating the pool. This required email exchanges with several properties and quickly narrowed our choices. Also, some properties will give you a discount for an extended stay. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Some vacation rentals are investment properties that are professionally managed and completely cleaned out after each renter, while others are vacation homes for the owner. You can typically figure out which one your rental is by reading the owner’s bio. If it’s a vacation home for the owner there may be items left behind in the cupboards, closets, etc. Since the house we rented was an owner’s vacation home, we planned to spend the first afternoon cleaning and rearranging cupboards and closets to fit our needs for the next two months. As my husband and Dad unloaded the vehicle, my Mom and I pulled out the cleaning supplies and started scrubbing down the kitchen. My Mom pulled everything out of the cupboards and drawers. I put pantry items that were left-over from the owner (or other guests) that we didn’t need or want, in an empty box and tucked it away in a back closet until the day we moved out. Then I put the dishes, glasses, cookware, etc. I planned to use regularly in easy to reach cupboards. I wiped down the inside of the fridge and dumped the old ice in the ice-maker. Once the kitchen was clean, we were ready to make a grocery run.
Here are some of my tips for making a rental feel like home:
- Scents – I always travel with candles and room sprays, even to resorts and hotels. Since we were staying for two months, I also purchased some diffusers.
- Throw blankets – if you have room and it’s important to you, bring your own. If not, I usually gather up the blankets I like and throw them in the washer.
- Bed pillow – most people have a pillow preference. If you can’t bring your own pillow, check all the guest rooms until you find a pillow you like and switch them out.
- Knives & a cutting board – I haven’t found a rental that has good, sharp knives. Since I like to cook, having good knives is important to me. A paring knife and a chef’s knife should get you through the basics.
- Kitchen essentials – everyone has kitchen tools they use on a regular basis. A few things necessary for me are a good blender, YETIs, an assortment of spices, a simple citrus juicer, an ice cube tray (to make lemon juice ice cubes for my morning hot water), a cocktail shaker and shot glass. Check the list of amenities in your rental before packing (or touch base with the owner) to see if the items you want are already there.
- Hangers – if you usually need to request extra hangers when you stay at a hotel, odds are there won’t be enough hangers in your rental. If you don’t have room to bring hangers, check the dollar store once you arrive at your destination.
- Laundry basket – not only is a laundry basket great for transporting items, it’s nice to have a basket in your closet for collecting dirty laundry.
- Beach / pool towels – many rentals have old bath towels or cheap beach towels for using at the pool. If a big fluffy towel is important to you, bring your own or plan to purchase some at your destination.
- Personal bathroom products – most rentals do not supply shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. so bring your own. I also like to bring hotel samples that I’ve collected during our travels for the guest bathroom in case our guests don’t bring any.
- Cleaning supplies – most rentals have basic cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, dish soap, etc. If you have strong brand preferences, plan to purchase your own once you arrive.
Now that your rental is starting to feel comfortable; it’s time to invite guests and have fun.
If you have any tips for selecting a vacation rental or how to make it feel like home, please share in the comments below.
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Aperol Spritz
I had my first Aperol Spritz in Sidney, Australia in 2017 and it quickly became one of my favorite light cocktails. Aperol is an Italian bitter; if it’s too bitter for you, add more Prosecco.3 parts Prosecco (I use La Marca)
2 parts Aperol
1 part club soda
Orange peelThis is an easy one… combine all ingredients in a large wine glass or water goblet filled with ice.
Garnish with an orange peel. (And, if you love green olives, try one in your spritz.)
Cheers!